The hospice nurse said that 20 breaths a minute
Is what a person takes - so we did the math
20 breaths for every minute of every hour of every day
So in the span of our Mother's almost 84 years
865 million breaths of air
All automatic - except for the first...and the last

I imagine her parents - so anxious - then joyful
To hear her first gasp with her first cry
And us- so anxious and fearful to hear the last
Of her 865 million
That first and that last gasp are monumental
But it's the 865 million that lie in between 
That mean so much more

The breathless breaths of a child at play
Hide and seek breaths - 1...2...3...breaths
Skipping down her small town street breaths
First blush shy bat your eye breaths
Friendliest girl in the school breaths
True love softly whispers breaths
To honor...to cherish...I do breaths

Then home and hearth and family breaths
She gave us life - a mothers love breaths 
The softest touch - her warm embrace
The sweetest gaze - her gentle grace

The breaths
The breaths of life
They rise and fall
They rise and fall again
And through it all
A life is lived - and then...
That one last breath
And we are left to breathe
Remembering

Frances and I are keeping you and your family in our prayers.

Cindy,

Thinking about you and your family during this sad time.
Lynda Worthington

Our deepest condolences to you and your family.
Keith and Mary

Cindy,
Our deepest condolences to you and your family. 
Keith and Mary Williams

Cindy, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Cindy, our condolences to you and your family.   Jean and Alicia

Our prayers are with you Cindy Klepak and family in the loss of a mother and friend.  - Columbus Board of Realtors® family

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Frances Jaffe

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OBITUARY

Frances Berk Jaffe

13 May, 1931 – 9 March, 2015

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